Hands-free device for operating mobile telephones in motor vehicles

Abstract

Set forth are developments such as multiple use and remote control functions in relation to a commercially available hands-free device for the operation of mobile telephones in motor vehicles.

1 . A hands-free device for the operation of mobile telephones in motor vehicles, for example private automobiles, buses and trucks and other utility vehicles, 
 comprising a mounting unit ( 12 ) which can be installed in the motor vehicle for an easily interchangeable, device-specific holder ( 14 ) for temporarily receiving a mobile telephone, with device-specific data preferably stored on a microprocessor,    wherein it is provided that 
 a) the holder ( 14 ) and/or the mounting unit ( 12 ) can be connected to a control device which is present in the motor vehicle in any case, for example for the operation of an automobile radio, a television, a navigation system, the Internet and/or a communication system such as Telematic, and/or  
 b) the holder ( 14 ) and/or the mounting unit ( 12 ) can be connected to an interface module ( 16 ) which can be installed in the motor vehicle and which contains vehicle-specific data preferably stored on a microprocessor, and a cableless remote control device can be connected to the holder ( 14 ) and/or the mounting unit ( 12 ) and/or to the interface module ( 16 ), by way of which remote control device such functions other than the hands-free device in the motor vehicle can also be remotely controlled, as would be actuable for example by way of a multi function-implementing steering wheel, and/or  
 c) the holder ( 14 ) and/or the mounting unit ( 12 ) can be connected to an interface module ( 16 ) which can be installed in the motor vehicle and which contains vehicle-specific data preferably stored on a microprocessor and is also equipped with a speech recognition means for verbal control not only of the hands-free device but also other functions in the motor vehicle, and/or  
 d) there are provided a plurality of holders ( 14 ) and/or mounting units ( 12 ) which each have a respective microprocessor and which can be connected to a bus ( 22 ) to a common interface module ( 16 ) which can be installed in the motor vehicle and which preferably has a microprocessor.  
   
     
     
         2 . A hands-free device as set forth in  claim 1  characterized in that the interface module which can be installed in the motor vehicle in accordance with b) and to which the holder ( 14 ) and/or the mounting unit ( 12 ) can be connected by way of the cableless remote control device is in the form of a specific interface module of the hands-free device or in the form of an interface module which is present in the motor vehicle in any case, preferably as a control device of an automobile radio, a television, a navigation system, an Internet access or a communication system such as Telematic.  
     
     
         3 . A hands-free device as set forth in  claim 1  characterized in that the interface module ( 16 ) which can be installed in the motor vehicle in accordance with c) and which is equipped with a speech recognition means is in the form of a specific interface module of the hands-free device or in the form of an interface module which is present in the motor vehicle in any case, preferably as a control device of an automobile radio, a television, a navigation system, an Internet access or a communication system such as Telematic.  
     
     
         4 . A hands-free device as set forth in one of the preceding claims characterized in that to connect the microprocessor of the holder ( 14 ) or the mounting unit ( 12 ) respectively to the microprocessor of the interface module ( 16 ) there is provided a bus which is preferably in the form of a cablelessly immaterial bus.  
     
     
         5 . A hands-free device as set forth in one of the preceding claims characterized in that a cableless plug connection ( 12   b ) is provided between the holder ( 14 ) and the mounting unit ( 12 ) and/or that a cable connection ( 18 ) with plug ( 29 ) is provided between the holder ( 14 ) and the mounting unit ( 12 ) or that there is no electrical connection between the holder ( 14 ) and the mounting unit ( 12 ) but a cable connection with plug between the holder ( 14 ) and the interface module ( 16 ).  
     
     
         6 . A hands-free device as set forth in one of the preceding claims characterized in that on the one hand the interface module ( 16 ) and on the other hand the mounting unit ( 12 ) and/or the holder ( 14 ) each have a respective microprocessor and the microprocessors communicate with each other by way of a serial, selectively synchronously and/or asynchronously operable interface, by way of a bus ( 22 ), in order at the beginning of operation to configure the interface in accordance with the current equipment combination.  
     
     
         7 . A hands-free device as set forth in  claim 10  characterized in that an interface configuration procedure is triggered when the interface module ( 16 ) sends a change-over switching command back to the mounting unit ( 12 ) because it can support its set which has just been received of interface parameters.  
     
     
         8 . A hands-free device as set forth in one of the preceding claims characterized in that on the one hand the interface module ( 16 ) and on the other hand the mounting unit. ( 12 ) and/or the holder ( 14 ) each have a respective microprocessor and the microprocessors communicate with each other by way of a serial, selectively synchronously and/or asynchronously operable interface, by way of a bus ( 22 ), in order to execute entitlement checking in respect of the admissibility of the operation of a mobile telephone at the present interface module ( 16 ).  
     
     
         9 . A hands-free device as set forth in one of the preceding claims characterized in that on the one hand the interface module ( 16 ) and on the other hand the mounting unit ( 12 ) and/or the holder ( 14 ) each have a respective microprocessor and the microprocessors which preferably communicate with each other by way of a bus ( 22 ) implement data encryption and/or data compression.  
     
     
         10 . A hands-free device as set forth in  claim 9  characterized in that the first character of a data telegram is a synchronization character which is known at the receiver end and which at the transmitter end is coded in accordance with a predetermined law, preferably quasi-randomly, by rotation or interlinking of a bit sequence, whereupon the other characters of the data telegram to be transmitted are coded in accordance with the same law, while at the receiver end the first character is correspondingly converted back into the expected synchronization character, preferably by bit rotation and/or interlinking, whereupon also the other characters of said telegram are treated in the same manner.  
     
     
         11 . A hands-free device as set forth in  claim 10  characterized in that the law is altered for successively occurring data telegrams.  
     
     
         12 . A hands-free device as set forth in one of the preceding claims characterized in that the mounting unit ( 12 ) and/or the holder ( 14 ) is provided with a transmitter-receiver ( 25   a ) for wireless audio connection to a transmitter-receiver at a headset ( 25   b ) with headphone and microphone.  
     
     
         13 . A hands-free device as set forth in  claim 12  characterized in that the transmitter-receiver ( 25   a ) of the mounting unit ( 12 ) or the holder ( 14 ) respectively is in the form of a separate and/or retro-fittable structural unit.  
     
     
         14 . A hands-free device as set forth in  claim 12  or  claim 13  characterized in that the audio connection is of such a circuitry that it is switched on when the hands-free device is switched into the private mode and in that case the headphone and microphone of the headset ( 25   b ) are automatically switched on and preferably the external loudspeaker and microphone of the hands-free device are switched off.  
     
     
         15 . A hands-free device as set forth in one of claims  12  through  14  characterized in that the audio connection can be switched on/off by way of a switch which can be actuated by hand and/or by way of a speech control means.  
     
     
         16 . A hands-free device as set forth in  claim 14  characterized in that the switch which can be actuated by hand is arranged in the region of the transmitter-receiver ( 25   a ) of the mounting unit ( 12 ) or the holder ( 14 ) and/or in the region of the transmitter-receiver of the headset ( 25 ).  
     
     
         17 . A hands-free device as set forth in one of the preceding claims characterized in that, when the private mode is switched on, the holder ( 14 ) is arranged at or on the mounting unit ( 12 ).  
     
     
         18 . A hands-free device as set forth in one of the preceding claims characterized in that a computing and/or memory and/or display device can be connected to the mounting unit ( 12 ) and/or the holder ( 14 ) and/or to the interface module ( 16 ).  
     
     
         19 . A hands-free device as set forth in  claim 18  characterized in that the computing and/or memory and/or display device which can be connected to the mounting unit ( 12 ) and/or the holder ( 14 ) and/or to the interface module ( 16 ) is in the form of a computer with display, preferably a laptop or notebook or in particular in the form of a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) or organizer or mini-computer.  
     
     
         20 . A hands-free device as set forth in  claim 19  characterized in that the computing and/or memory and/or display device is connectable by way of cable or cablelessly, for example by way of radio or bluetooth.  
     
     
         21 . A hands-free device as set forth in one of the preceding claims characterized in that the mounting unit ( 12 ) has a bracket ( 12 ) or the like which can be mounted stationarily in the motor vehicle, wherein the bracket ( 12 ) can preferably be mounted to the instrument panel or to the central console or to the arm rest or in or at the glove compartment or in a door, preferably the inside of a vehicle door.  
     
     
         22 . A hands-free device as set forth in  claim 21  characterized in that the bracket ( 12 ) has a fixing side which is adapted to the fixing location at the instrument panel, the central console or the armrest.  
     
     
         23 . A hands-free device as set forth in one of the two preceding claims characterized in that the holder ( 14 ) adapted for temporarily receiving the mobile telephone can be temporarily connected to the bracket.  
     
     
         24 . A hands-free device as set forth in one of the preceding claims characterized in that the holder ( 14 ) is in the shape of a receiving means preferably adapted in a cradle form to the mobile telephone for temporarily receiving the mobile telephone.  
     
     
         25 . A hands-free device as set forth in one of the preceding claims characterized in that the holder ( 14 ) has an electrical connection for the mobile telephone and preferably a control unit, in particular with microprocessor.  
     
     
         26 . A motor vehicle with a hands-free device as set forth in one of the preceding claims installed therein.